Preventing Damage to 4-Way Connectors on Trailers Used by Many People

Updated 09/29/2009 | Published 09/28/2009

Products Featured in This Question

Hopkins Endurance 4-Way Flat Trailer Connector w/ 48" Harness and Ergonomic Pull

(52)

$11.06

Trailer Wiring Junction Box

(821)

$31.62

Wire Loom, 1/2" Diameter (per Foot)

(293)

$2.32

Pollak Plated Steel Cable Guard for Single-Pole Connector PK11852

(12)

$6.23

Question:

for the 21st time i am rewiring 3 trailers. the problem is that we have many people towing our trailers and they feel the need to cut our wiring harnesses off to connect them directly into there systems. the people who are doing this have no concern for whoever is going to use the trailers next. i have an idea that might solve this problem...what i would like to do is design a extra heavy duty system. it would consist of a terminal box located on the front of the trailer tounge where the four wires would terminate inside of a water proof j-box with screw type terminals then have the ribbon cable attach to ajoining screw terminals to continue to the tow vehical. i would like to see if you have or could make a heavy rubber coated 4 way cable that would discurage people from cutting the plug off. for those people that need to wire direct i dont know why they can remove the j-box cover and screw directly to the electrical system without distroying the system. do you have any suggestions for the parts i would need? i know this is extreme but i just rewired everything a month ago and all the harnesses are cut off again.

asked by: Chuck

Expert Reply:

There are a few solutions I can think of. First I will list some parts that you may find useful then explain some of the ideas I had.

We offer a weather proof junction box, part # 38656, that would allow people to make hardwire connections without cutting your 4-pole connector off. We do not carry any heavy coated wire, but we do carry wire loom that might make cutting a bit more difficult like part # 459075-1.

The best solution for preventing cutting I could think of is using flexible metal conduit. We do not carry it, but you can find it at a hardware store. I would run a 4-way connector off our junction box using flexible conduit as a shield. I would run a separate loose wire pigtail off the junction box as well so that people can hardwire into their system. This would also prevent them from opening your junction box and causing problems in there. As the wire gets cut and trimmed, you will only have to replace a few feet coming off the junction box, and you will not have to keep replacing 4-way connectors. I would also use part # PK11763 to prevent the flexible conduit from nicking the 4 pole wires, and to provide a hanging point.

expert reply by: Patrick B